Sides agree to extension in synagogue massacre case

FILE – This Dec. 2, 2018, file photo shows a menorah at a memorial outside the Tree of Life Synagogue, where Robert Bowers killed worshippers in an Oct. 27 shooting, as people prepare for a celebration service at sundown on the first night of Hanukkah in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Bowers, charged with killing 11 worshippers at the Pittsburgh synagogue last year, has a court hearing Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. Prosecutors have not made a final decision on whether to seek the death penalty. Bowers is not expected to be in court. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Prosecutors and lawyers for the man charged with killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue last year have agreed to a 120-day extension in the case.

The sides met briefly in federal court in Pittsburgh on Monday to review the status of Robert Bowers’ prosecution. The defendant wasn’t in court.

Authorities say Bowers opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons during worship services inside Tree of Life synagogue. Bowers allegedly expressed hatred of Jews during the Oct. 27 rampage and later told police that “all these Jews need to die.” It was the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.

Prosecutors have not made a final decision on whether to seek the death penalty.

Bowers has pleaded not guilty to hate crimes and other offenses.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.